Hollow and channel building block



July 17, 1951 w. H. MILLER 2,550,731

HOLLOW AND CHANNEL BUILDING BLOCK Filed April 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Walter H. Miller .BDT I 9 July 17, 1951 w MILLER 2,560,731

HOLLOW AND CHANNEL BUILDING BLOCK Filed April 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2T I 2 ig. 3 8 26 y? 24 b /2 I9 20 /2 2/ x /7 20 I8 22 Q 5 q 29 33 I a 22i \{6 Q Fig 4. (Tj\ 34 I 6 Q B 32 "Z ?9 I a 0 a /3 I2 a o l9 /'6 [4 Q /3a a 2 Y 2o 0 20 Q 0 0 a .0 a Q 0 y l8 0 a o /////77 r 3 v a a o aInventor o o a n 0 34 0 0 i 32 a 2/ Walter H. Mlller 9 gziff m PatentedJuly 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLLOW enm z smme nLocK WalterH. Miller, Decatur, Ga. Application April 26, 1948, Serial No. 23,267

4 Claims.

1 n This invention relates to the broad class of concrete structures andmasonry walls of the types commonly known as dry walls, and has to dowith, on the one hand, a speed wall and man.-

ner of constructing same and, in addition, comprehends certain new anduseful improvements in I novel dry wall units, such as tiles for back-uppurposes and bricks for facing and equivalent purposes.

An object of the invention, cardinal in importance, is to provide aone-piece duplex unit, of

the two-in-one variety, characterized by duplicate bricks which areconnected with one another by frangible connecting walls, which may besevered by the mason, on the job, and then conveniently laid in thewall, the unification of parts serving to simplify manufacturing, whilereducing costs and appreciably saving time and labor, in that bothbricks may be handled at one and the same time. I

More particularly, novelty is predicated upon the duplicated bricksinterconnected, in spaced superposed parallelism, by readily separablewalls, the unit being such that it includes handle means on its top andduplicate handle means on its bottom, making it convenient for the masonto conveniently and accessibly grasp said handle means to facilitatethe-steps of separating the individual bricks, and then, locating andbonding same in the wall. v

A further novel phase of the invention invokes the stated duplicatebricks initially unified in a duplex wall unit, which may beconveniently stacked, expeditiously handled by all concerned, and whichmay be manufactured to minimize the likelihood of warping of portions ofsame, and in which the several jointing walls, which are centrallyseverable, divide themselves into flangelike mortar baliies which serveadvantageously in a manner to be hereinafter more explicitly described.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedwall-constructing brick, either as an individual article ready for use,or as a component of the stated dual unit, said brick beingcharacterized by hollow parallel wall sections for load supportingpurposes, connected by web means, the latter including a centrallylocated divider or partition which defines trapping and drainage guttersand whose accessibleedge portion has longitudinal beads definingpractical and convenient hand-holds or hand-grips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brick of the sort abovementioned, with a partition in the space between the wall sections morespecifically described.

A still further object of the invention is to pro vida. a brickembodying principal components constituting the stated wall sections andgutter deflning'web means adjoining the sections, the web means havingthe'centralized partition providing the stated abutment, and said webmeans also having, on its opposite side, and in alignment with thepartition,- a line-up and positioning rib, the rib on one brick matchingand coinciding with the abutment .on the next-below brick to facilitatepiloting the bricks into location in proper courses and tiers for readymortar bonding.

An additional object of the invention has to do with a wall constructingbrick, wherein hollow wall sections are interconnected by the stated webmeans, with or without the partitions and constituting mortar baflies,the respective partsembodying hollow body or wall sections connected bythe stated web means, the, web means having outstanding partitionsproviding abutments and hand-holds, and inwardly projecting opposed ribsproviding the locating and positioning members,

and the upper inner corner portions, forming the outer bounds of thegutters, having angular rooves or rabbets providing the aforementionedledges.

Other'objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying illustrativedrawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pre-formed duplex hollow wallunit, manufactured to include the features and advantages. of myinvention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation, showing the unit separated into individualbricks or tiles.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, showin the manner in which thebricks are laid in wall and showing how the drainage gutters may be usedto accommodate wooden or equivalent strips or rounds for nailing a platein position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view, showing theinvention used as a backup tile in a wall construction and showing howthe drop flanges, which serve as the mortarbaffies, accommodate anchorsfor furrlng strips.

Referringnow to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals andreferring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 and initially to Figure 1, thepre-formed unit, which may be visualized either as a block, rectangulartile or special brick assembly, is a one-piece structure andcharacterized by parts which may be conveniently referred to asindividual bricks I and 8 respectively. These bricks are interconnected,in vertically spaced superposed parallelism, by spaced parallelconnecting walls 9 and I0, each wall having its central opposite sidesfashioned with score lines, which may take the form of relatively deepgrooves H and which serve to render said walls frangible and thus,severable into flanges l2. Not only do these portions or flanges serveas components of the connecting walls, but they also serve as mortarbaffles in a manner to be hereinafter described. Inasmuch as therespective bricks l and 8 are identical in construction, and despite thefact that they are shown connected into single block form in Figure 1,it is thought that it will clarify matters to refer to the identicalelements and features by like reference numerals. It follows that eachbrick comprises a pair of principal substantive or body members whichare conveniently referred to as hollow wall sections l 3 and i4, andthese have their inner opposed faces connected by web means 15. The webmeans is provided with a longitudinal central riser l6, which may beconveniently described either as a divider or partition. This dividesthe brick centrally to define substantially semi-circular drainage andcondensation gutters I1 and I8, which are commonly found in so-calleddry wall tiles and bricks. The outer crown edge of the partition islinearly straight and flat, as at l9, and provides a line-up and loadequalizing abutment. The edge portions are formed into beads 20 which,in conjunction with the spaces provided by the gutters and partition,define novel, well-balanced hand-grips or hand-holds. Thus, the brick,as far as described, may be considered as novel and embodying hollowrectangular wall sections l3 and i4 connected in spaced parallelrelation by curvate webs, the webs defining substantially semi-circulargutters and the gutters being separated by the partition, and thepartition serving as a hand-hold and also as abutment means. Along theouter boundaries of the gutters, the sections l3 and M are grooved orformed with rabbets 2|, which define mortar spaces and, also, ledges. Itwill be observed that the so-called top and bottom sides of the wallsections [3 and M are provided with channels 22 and 23, which serve asmortar accommodating key-ways. Referring to Figure 2 and to thestructure beneath the web means, it will be seenthat a runner or rib 24is provided, and this constitutes a line-up, self-levelling andlocatingielement which facilitates finding the correct position of thebrick in the wall and assisting in guiding, gaging, laying and bondingthe brick. The crown portion of the rib is substantially v-shaped andthe vertex is rounded, as at 25,

to'rest as a fulcrumming pilot on the abutment surface l9.

Novelty is asserted to exist, not only in the twin unit of Figure l andthe individual bricks 1 and 8 in Figure 2, but additional noveltyresides in the structures depicted in Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3, forexample, it will be seen that either brick is used, so that the guttersin the uppermost brick may serve to accommodate wooden rounds 26, whichare slipped endwise into the gutters and which have flattened portionsto accommodate nails' 21, which serve to hold in place a wooden orequivalent joist supporting plate 28. Thus, novelty may reside in a wallconstruction having dry wall gutter means, wherein the latter serves toaccommodate anchoring strips for nailing a plate or the like, in place.

Further novelty is seen in Figure 4, wherein the improved bricks areused in the capacity of back-up tiles. Here, the outer or facing bricks(standard bricks) are denoted by the numerals 29, and the bricks 1 and 8are denoted by the same numerals already used in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Thenumerals 30 designate furring strips carrying wallboard or the like 3|,and provided with metal anchoring brackets having end portions 32secured in place and having twisted reaches or limbs 33, interposedbetween the bricks and having downturned terminals or hooks 84 securedin the stated rabbets or against the ledges 2|.

The manner in which the bricks are assembled or laid in the wall is notnew, and the mortar application procedure is customary, except that itwill be seen that when each brick is laid, the fulcrumming vertex 25rests upon the baffle surface I!) of the partition, and thus permits themason to readily locate the position of the brick to be laid, and toline it up properly, after which the mortar is pressed into place andthe brick is levelled up, during which procedure, the apron flanges l2bridge the bonding spaces and thus serve as baffles, in the manner shownin Figures 3 and 4.

The width of the rib gages the size of the mortar joints as same will bepressed down firmly on the underlying abutment of the partition. Thisalso levels the unit in the wall, as the rib rests directly on thepartition and the latter supports part of the load, and the mortarbaffles come into place and provide effective bonds. The wood nailingmeans eliminates the boring of holes in plates and, also, eliminates theuse of toggle bolts and the like at door and window lambs. The mortarbafile means insures a tighter mortar joint and eliminates needlesstooling of the mortar joints. The self-levelling and line-up meanseliminates the use of a masons line for each course of brick. After thefirst course is laid, it is necessary only to have a line severalcourses above the first one to insure a plumb and straight wall.

In practice, it is understood that the faces of the bricks 6 and I maybe scored or the texture may be a smooth finish for ornamental resultsor whatever is required in a given job.

The bricks are eight inches square and two and a quarter inches invertical thickness or height. The space between the respective bricks 1and 8 is one and one-eighth inches. If desired, the surfaces 35 and 36in Figure 2 provide additional curvate surfaces, to facilitate drainageof condensation. In fact, by placing the runner or rib 24 on the bottomof the brick 1 in Figure 2, it coacts with the surfaces 36 and thebaille flanges l2 in defining additional channels. In other words, Ihave channels in the top of the brick and channels in the bottom of thebrick.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in coniunction withthe invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader toobtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features ofmerit and novelty suflicient to clarify the construction of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts maybe resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made fromthe invention as claimed.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A wall building brick comprising spaced parallel duplicate wallfacing, load bearing and distributing sections, the latter being hollowand the top and bottom sides of said sections having mortar receivingand bonding channels, a horizontal web connecting said sectionstogether, said web having a vertically upstanding partition midwaybetween said sections defining drainage gutters, the outer crown edge ofsaid partition being fiat from end to end and serving as a load bearingand levelling abutment, said partition being formed along oppositevertical faces with outstanding longitudinally extending beadsfunctioning as finger-grips, the inward upper corner portions borderingsaid sections being longitudinally rabbeted and providing clearanceledges, the underside of said web having a laterally dependinglongitudinally extending positioning, spacing, levelling and line-uprib, the latter being midway in respect to said sections and directlybeneath said partition.

2. A wall building brick comprising spaced parallel duplicate wallfacing, load bearing and distributing sections, the latter being hollowand the top and bottom sides of said sections having mortar receivingand bonding channels, a horizontal web connecting said sectionstogether, said web having a vertically upstanding partition midwaybetween said sections defining drainage gutters, the outer crown edge ofsaid partition being fiat from end to end and serving as a load bearingand levelling abutment, said partition being formed along oppositevertical faces with outstanding longitudinally extending beadsfunctioning as finger-grips, the inward upper corner portions borderingsaid sections being longitudinally rabbeted and providing clearanceledges, the underside of said web having a laterally dependinglongitudinally extending positioning, spacing, levelling and line-uprib, the latter being midway in respect to said sections and directlybeneath said partition, said sections being further provided on theirundersides with depending longitudinal flanges spaced inwardly from thevertical outer faces of said sections and spaced outwardly from andsituated parallel to said rib and serving as mortar baiiies.

3; A wall building brick comprising a onepiece body comprising ahorizontal web provided along opposite longitudinal edge portions withintegral duplicate load supporting and bonding sections and providedintermediate said sections with a lateral longitudinally extendingpartition defining, between itself and said sections, 'open endeddrainage gutters, the latter being substantially semi-circular incross-section, the opposite longitudinal surfaces of said partitionbeing concaved and merging into the web and forming portions of saidgutters, and, in addi tion, providing bead-like finger-grips with theresult that said partition may function as a handhold, the outer crownedge of said partition being Wide and flat and providing a foundationalabutment flush with the top surfaces of said bonding sections, the upperinward corner portions of said sections, opposite to the flat crown edgeof said partition being rabbeted and providing mortar baiiie flangeclearance and accommodating ledges, and said sections also having, ontheir bottom sides, spaced parallel depending bathe-flanges, the latterdirectly underneath of said ledges.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, together with a rib depending fromsaid web directly beneath said partition, said rib being a pilot, mortarspace gaging and load supporting member and having its lowermost edgeportion terminating on a plane above the lower edges of saidbafiieflanges.

- WALTER H. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 822,510 Davidson June 5, 1906830,094 Momsen Sept. 4, 1906 1,125,908 Lyle Jan. 19, 1915 1,323,513Whitacre Dec. 2, 1919 1,347,533 Cooper July 27, 1920 1,377,572 Fiske May10, 1921 1,380,821 Martin June 7, 1921 1,456,048 Barr May 22, 19231,502,327 Luce July 29, 1924 1,618,281 Greene Feb. 22, 1927 1,668,348Anderson May 1, 1928 1,866,129 'Raftis July 5, 1932 2,021,133 MunsonNov. 19, 1935 2,049,907 Hess Aug. 4, 1936 2,054,679 Nelson Sept. 15,1936 2,090,285 Christie et a1 Aug. 17, 1937 2,154,213 Noce Apr. 11, 19392,162,417 ,Breakey June 13, 1939

